Health care in the U.S.?

Question

The United States is the only advanced, industrial democracy that lacks universal health insurance. Why do you suppose this is so?

Answer 1

We are not a democracy anymore! And I work hard in school , work hard at my job and my job pays for my health insurance- I'm not complaining

Answer 2

Our Constitution provides no authority for it.

The public suspects that it doesn't work based on the fact that Medicare, Medicaid, IHS, VA, and SCHIP don't deliver what they promised they would.

It doesn't work anywhere it's tried--all the systems are going broke and they all RATION health care.

We have something almost as bad now though with the handful of large insurers taking advantage of doctors, patients, and taxpayers through special deals.

We need to fix the system, but the answer is CLEARLY getting government OUT and releasing the death grip of the system that the insurers have.

Want a LASIK procedure? Cheaper now than a decade ago.

Want plastic surgery? Still often major surgery, yet less than half the cost of an appendectomy for a tummy tuck--why? Insurance rarely pays and the docs have to offer at a price people can afford.

Medicare premium 1998: $43.80. 2008: $96.40. FACT: majority of people on Medicare have to have a "medigap" policy because they can't afford the 20% they would have to pay otherwise. If not, then something like a Medicare HMO is selected--yet NOW they often STILL have 20% co-pay for more expensive tests and procedures when that was NOT the case a decade ago. FACT: doctors are leaving Medicare--not only low reimbursement BUT this is where the government wants to balance its bogus Medicare budget: promise the docs a little, then REDUCE that because the money isn't there.

Answer 3

Because you are told it will not work.

I live in the UK, and am proud to work in the National Heath Service. Our health care is paid through taxation and costs us less than your system does, and is better. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_care#Economics If you look at the figures, infant mortality is better in the UK than the USA, and life expectancy is longer. In fact, the USA has worse figures than any other western democracy in the world.

Is it right that in the most powerful and richest country in the world, that you have babies dying that if they had been born in another western democracy, would have lived?

The NHS that I work in has its problems, but people have the choice, like you do, to take out private health care, and some even have it offered with jobs, just like in the USA. If you are happy to have a system that costs the amount it does, and fails to deliver when it comes to infant mortality and life expectancy, then fine, stick with it. Why is beyond me.

Answer 4

Universal Health Care scares me to death. Look how badly the government has screwed up every other program they have now.
I would rather pay into a healthcare savings account that if not used would carry over into the next year.
I don't mind paying a reasonable amount for insurance coverage for my family. What hurts is paying out $600.00 a month for a plan that has a $5000.00 deductable.
Healthcare cost has increased so much that there has to be some kind of cap put on charges for certain labs and procedures.
How many plain looking bare bones hospitals do you see? They are all adding on and looking like a 5 star hotel. I personally want quality care at a fair price. I can do without room service and huge lounging areas that no one uses.

Answer 5

Because Socialism is an evil violation of our Constitution.

The redistribution of wealth encourages underachievement and laziness.

Why work when the government will give you whatever you want.

The government is the problem not the solution. The government forces insurance companies to not allow you to pick plans that don't cover things like drug rehab and child birth and fertility treatments even if you have no plan on having these things and that jacks up the price.

If we treated health insurance like car insurance it would be more affordable.

There is Lot's of other Government over regulation that raises the cost of health care.

Answer 6

I'm not sure we can afford it. Right now we spend more per capita than any other nation for health care. Since government wastes 35% of every dollar it spends on buracracy. Do you really want the government running health care?

Answer 7

Universal health is expensive, who do you suppose is going to pay for it? As far as I know the Government is not a profitable organization. Seems to me that the good old Taxpayer is going to have to pay for it. Maybe this is one of the reasons? I have no desire to pay for the health of people milking the welfare sacred goat.

Answer 8

Socialistic central economic planning never works efficiently. Just ask the Russians.

Answer 9

Because it doesn't work and its not the governments job to take care of people from cradle to grave

Answer 10

The US is not a democracy, it is a republic.
A US citizen has BETTER healthcare available than anywhere else.